Cheat Sheets

There are several tricks to determining how much fabric you need to buy before you begin making slipcovers for your sofa or chairs. Fabric is woven in several conventional widths: 36 inches; 42 to 45 inches[more…]

If you have decided to make your own curtains to save money, you may be shocked by fabric prices. A few different factors can add up to a higher cost for your fabrics. Keep the following points in mind[more…]

One of the most important parts of planning your slipcover project is measuring your furniture correctly. You need to understand the different parts of your slipcover and how they come together to make[more…]

When making curtains, placing your pattern properly on the fabric is an important step in making your panel come out right. Keep the following information in mind when laying out your pattern on the fabric[more…]

After you know your measurements, have placed your pattern correctly, and secured it with pins, you can cut the length and width of the fabric to create your window treatment’s panels. When you lay out[more…]

Swags are easy to make and have a casual, airy look. After you’ve measured to determine how much fabric you need and picked out the perfect fabric for your swags, you are ready to begin sewing. Follow[more…]

Although lace is an ideal fabric for this valance project, a light, checked gingham is also a good choice. If you decide to use a nonlace fabric that needs a hem for your curtains, add another inch to[more…]

These Ultrasuede curtains are very simple window treatments that effectively block light and give your room a modern look. They’re great for young men’s rooms, or any room where you want a bit of style[more…]

A well-made slipcover can be an easy way to change the look of a room without incurring the expense of buying new furniture. The biggest sewing challenge you face when making slipcovers is how to manage[more…]

If you find that your slipcover doesn’t fit as perfectly as you’d hoped for, or if it’s doing a slip and slide when certain members of your family hop or jump on it, consider using a few of these tips:[more…]

Armchairs are naturals for slipcovering. If you’re covering an armchair that has a rounded back, consider a fabric that drapes well, such as slipcover-grade chenille or soft twill. A stiff or overly crisp[more…]

Deciding what kind of trim you want to add to your slipcover project is mostly a matter of taste. For example, if you like an ornate look, consider using a jasmine, which is a trim that features a cut[more…]

Not all slipcovers give you the nice neat look you want. If you have a slipcover that slides off or pouches out and makes your furniture look tired and lumpy, you can improve the fit by adding darts. Darts[more…]

Whether your slipcover is too long or too short, too tight or too loose, there are ways to improve your slipcovers so they add charm to the room. Here, the biggest slipcover problems are solved:[more…]

A fully lined balloon valance on a curtain rod is a nonmoving treatment that looks complicated and fancy (when made with an ornate fabric, it harkens back to Victorian style), but it’s simple to create[more…]

Casement curtains attach to the window sash. This two-panel treatment works for windows that open in the middle and swing outward, but you can also use one panel of this style for a glass-paneled door.[more…]

Roman shades pull up in sections with the help of a traverse cord or Roman shade cord (both available at a crafts store). Roman shades look elegant and streamlined in either the up or down position.[more…]

London shades look a bit like the balloon valance, but they’re more utilitarian. They have the same shirred, puffed look when the ribbon is pulled up to make the shade ascend. Perfect for the bedroom,[more…]

In this project, you create a useful and tasteful ottoman made of two inexpensive trunks that’s perfect for an apartment where extra storage is at a premium, or for anywhere that you want to add a bit[more…]

Depending on where you live and how many seasonal changes your home endures, you may want to give your windows a little extra insulation. An extra-thick curtain or a curtain lined with cotton duck can[more…]

The genius of this swag is in its lines. No matter how you turn it to create folds, the swag looks great because both sides are made of the same fabric. This project uses used two panels that you sew into[more…]

Stitched pleats add a flat plushiness to the top of your window treatment, but also maintain a managed, structured fullness at the bottom. They’re great where you don’t want so much billowy fabric represented[more…]

This project is an adorable vanity stool slipcover for a bathroom, changing room, little girl’s room, or cabana. The ruffles are worth the extra time and effort. Try a fabric that keeps its shape, such[more…]

You can go to the store and buy a slipcover pattern that loosely conforms to the dimensions of your piece of furniture, but making your own pattern allows you to get your slipcover’s curves, contours,[more…]

Making reversible draperies takes a bit of extra effort, but it’s well worth it. Try a striped fabric backed with a solid or a vivid pattern (polka dots or small-print fabric) backed with a solid, or try[more…]